i.75 



CHAPTER IX. 



EXPEDITION TO KALMUK. 



THE LEGEND OF TAKLA MAKHAN AN UNEXPECTED SHOT 



ARRIVAL OF BOWER COMFORTABLE QUARTERS A VIL- 

 LAGE DANCE WITH THE KALMUKS THE TUNKTCHI 



MAKES DIFFICULTIES ABOVE THE REGION OF WOOD 



FROZEN OUT THE KHAN'S MOTHER RETURN TO SHAH YAR 



A WILD SWAN A DEER-DRIVE BACK AT AKSU CHINESE 



COURT OF JUSTICE SUMMARY PUNISHMENT GIVING A 



LESSON A FRIENDLY ESCORT THE CHUNKOO'S 'BAND 



FRESH HUNTING-GROUNDS OVIS CAROLINI ACROSS THE 



STEPPES IMPERIAL GROUSE KASHGAR. 



" ONCE upon a time, it might be four or five 

 centuries ago, a kingdom which was called Takla 

 Makhan existed. It extended from Khotan on 

 the south-west, in a long strip of country watered 

 by the Khotan, Yarkand, and Tarim rivers, as 

 far as Pop Mor, or maybe beyond. It was said 

 to be thickly populated and well watered, con- 

 taining about four hundred and fifty towns and 

 villages. 



